Religious Conflicts

Fundamentalism (return to the basics, often literal interpretation of a faith) Religion vs. social change often reaction to loss of control Iran 1979 → extremism Fundamentalism + violence 9/11 attacks by al-Qaeda Taliban vs. women’s rights ISIS terrorism/beheadings Jihadists = holy war vs. non-believers

Intrareligious conflict in Christianity (historical) Post-Reformation Wars of Religion (1520s – 1648) → Dutch Republic French Huguenots massacred English Civil War Thirty Years’ War German, Czech pop. ↓ 30% Peace of Westphalia Est. nation-state system Freedom of religion Enlightenment → French Revolution, Communism leads to secularism

Religious Conflict Religion vs. communism Soviet Union/Eastern Europe represses religion revival since fall of communism. Communist China persecutes religion “official” freedom of religion oppresses Buddhism in Tibet Hinduism resists social equality Caste system Dalits/untouchables Outlawed by govt. Buddhists advocate/resist social change in SE Asia Vietnam in the 1960s Myanmar (Burma) now “anti-Islamic”

Percent “non-religious”

Culture Clash in Europe Islamic fundamentalism (extremism. ) vs Culture Clash in Europe Islamic fundamentalism (extremism?) vs. European secularism (xenophobia?) Violent attacks by extremists on those who insult their religious sensibilities. Charlie Hebdo, cartoon Theo van Gogh, Dutch filmmaker Is this a true religious conviction or the consequence of ghettoization? Bans against demonstration of religiosity (burkinis, minarets, niqabs)

Islamic dress bans How are these a reflection of Islamic beliefs? niqab burkini Why might secular Europeans object to these?

Culture Clash in Europe Islamic fundamentalism (extremism. ) vs Culture Clash in Europe Islamic fundamentalism (extremism?) vs. European secularism (xenophobia?) Violent attacks by extremists on those who insult their religious sensibilities. Charlie Hebdo, cartoon Theo van Gogh, Dutch filmmaker Is this a true religious conviction or the consequence of ghettoization? Bans against demonstration of religiosity (burkinis, minarets, niqabs) anti-immigrant policies rise of right wing nationalism

Religious conflict hotspots

Intrareligious or “sectarian” Northern Ireland Ireland partitioned in 1921 North stays part of UK “The Troubles” Began in late-1960s Reaction to discrimination against Catholics Leads to sectarian violence terrorism

Intrareligious or “sectarian” Northern Ireland Ireland partitioned in 1921 North stays part of UK “The Troubles” Began in late-1960s Reaction to discrimination against Catholics Leads to sectarian violence terrorism Tentative power-sharing peace since 1998.

Sunni vs. Shi’a Sunni Shia Millennium old conflict Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan, 40% Iraq, North Africa, Pakistan, Indonesia, etc. Shia Iran, 60% Iraq, Syrian dictator (“Alawite”) Pockets in Yemen, other Millennium old conflict Underlies regional conflicts and conflicts within countries Syria, Iraq, Yemen, etc.

Interreligious Conflict

Christianity vs. Islam Historical Battle of Tours (732 AD) Reconquista in Spain (700 years) Crusades (11th – 13th centuries) Ottoman Turks lay siege to Vienna 2x http://www.mapsofwar.com/ind/history-of-religion.html Current Balkans Caucasus Southern Philippines West Africa

Religious conflict hotspots

Nigeria (West Africa) 50/50% Muslim/Christian Boko Haram 2009 – present demand nationwide sharia law execution for apostasy, death for female adulterers, homosexuals escalating violence Kidnappings, bombings, government counterattacks Why? religious fervor or… North lacks development Competition for arable land in Central zone as north desertifies.

Christians attack Muslims in the former Yugoslavia Ethnic cleansing Bosnia (1992 – 95) Muslims cleansed by Serbs/Croats Dayton Accords reward aggression Kosovo (1999) Albanians cleansed by Serbs Stopped by NATO airstrikes

Ethnic Cleansing Rewarded!